Chris has been in San Antonio getting fitted for new prosthetics. He headed down there Jan. 28th and will be there until the 20th of this month. Of course making him be gone for both his birthday and Valentines Day. As much as I wanted to be down there for both, I also didn't want to use up a ton of my vacation days. So I decided to make a long weekend and go down for his birthday. And looking back through my phone we did not manage to get a single picture together all weekend! Ugh...I hate when that happens. Every day we said we would, yet it didn't happen. Bummer. I did however get photos with Dot. Dot is our traveling "mascot" from work. The children and teachers take turns taking her for a weekend or on trips. We take photos of the things we did with her and then write it in a journal. It's a fun activity that the kids enjoy and helps promote language development. Anywho, I can at least share those photos with you :)
Dot and my luggage all ready to go!
I got into San Antonio on Thursday. We grabbed some lunch then headed to La Cantera which is an outdoor mall that I really enjoyed shopping at when we lived there. I got a few things and then went into Coach to explore my options for my next purse. Afterwards we went to the Palladium, which is to this day still the biggest theater I have ever seen. Seriously this place is massive. We ended up seeing Mama, which totally freaked me out. I don't know if it was the children, or all the lighting and anticipation but I was super jumpy! We got dinner at a place called Tiago's Cabo Grille, which has awesome fajitas for two.
Friday morning we had to head to the CFI (Center for the Intrepid...the place at Brooke Army Medical Center where Chris did all his rehab), for a prosthetic appointment. This trip was the first time I have been to San Antonio since I moved back to CO after his injury and rehab. As we pulled up to BAMC it felt so weird being back there. Back to the place where our lives changed in so many ways, and where we went through so much. I must admit I was overcome with memories and emotions that I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt like my stomach was doing flips, I had a lump in my throat, and I could feel a few tears forming in my eyes. That place changed my life and it will always hold a certain place in my heart. Once inside I looked around and remembered every moment we had there. Every spot of every first in his recovery. And seeing old friends whose lives were changed by injuries as well, was just amazing. And the guys going through it now, and knowing what it felt like to be in their shoes. It was humbling all over again and reminded me of the road we traveled.
Afterwards, we headed downtown. Though we have been to the Alamo several times we went there again and explored. They have a new timeline wall though that was interesting to read. And of course had to get pics of Dot there!
Dot sitting up on the statue across from the Alamo.
Dot and I outside the Alamo.
We then headed acrossed the street and visited Ripleys and the wax museum. They had a few new figures at the wax museum...the "haunted" portion of the place still gives me the creeps. Ha. At work, this month's curriculum theme is dinosaurs, so I was excited to see a big mammoth fossil. Chris tried really hard to get Dot to sit up on its tusks, unfortunately it didn't work so we settled for a "less cool" photo...
That night we had a nice romantic dinner at a very yummy Italian place on the riverwalk, called Pasaenos. When we finished we went to my favorite little martini bar, Swig. I love that place. My friend Megan and I discovered it when I was living there. They have an amazing drink list, and it has a great location overlooking the riverwalk. I had the Rasberry Smooch Martini, while Chris enjoyed a cigar. It was definitely our "fancy night" of the trip :)
Saturday was his birthday. Unfortunately our plans to spend the day at Sea World were dampened (literally) by the weather. Boo...and muggy humid rain is even worse then "normal" rain. Ick! That evening we went to Dave and Busters for dinner and games. Thge Pattersons (another wounded warrior family) and Paul (the generous friend who allowed us to live with him in San Antonio) joined us. It was so great to see all of them. These are definitely people who helped me get through that time. Paul, for welcoming us into his home. And the Pattersons, who will be lifelong friends I hope. Jessica Patterson was my first friend there (aside from of few of the other amazing wives that were there from our company). We both lived in the same Fisher House, and she became someone I could escape my situation with, chat with, laugh, go on random shopping adventures. She definitely made that place a lot less lonely. We were dealing with similar injuries, and she was someone I could go to who I felt really understood where I was coming from. I appreciated and continue to appreciate that friendship so much and it was so amazing to get to see her, her husband, and their adorable son again.
On Sunday evening we go to have dinner at Pappadeux's with some more friends of ours. When we first moved to San Antonio, I was lucky enough to have had some old family friends there. They were great and became even greater friends to us in our time there. Again, they made San Anotnio a lot less lonely and offered me a great deal of the feeling of home and welcomed us into their family/lives with open arms. I just adore them and they are so kind. It was great to see them (and to meet a new addition to their family!) The rest of the weekend were filled with Chris and I just hanging out and enjoying each others company. I am so glad I took the trip, was able to spend his birthday with him, and to see friends. It was such a good weekend!
